Zardoz

Overview

Zardoz is a cross-platform gaming environment built around
DOSBox. It supports two
modes of operation: a packager mode, and a launcher mode.

In the packager mode, Zardoz allows you to
build an installable package for an MS-DOS-based game. A
package includes the game's executable and data files;
metadata about the game such as its title, publisher, release
year, and other details; any related assets such as
documentation, maps, artwork, and web links; and, of course,
the DOSBox configuration settings for the game. Zardoz
compiles all of this content into a single Zardoz archive
(".doz") file, which you can then upload to a web server or
share by some other means. (But please note: do not share
games for which you do not own the copyright!)

In the launcher mode, Zardoz functions as an
application launcher and asset viewer for MS-DOS games that have
been packaged as described above. You can install a new game in
Zardoz by pointing it at the ".doz" file, either on the web or
in the local filesystem. Zardoz will download the archive file
(if it's on the web), unpack it, and install the game into its
launcher screen. You can then view the game's assets and launch
the game with a few clicks of the mouse—no configuration
required! Zardoz even comes bundled with DOSBox, so it's not
necessary to install it separately.

Zardoz has many other features to make your DOSBox
gaming experience more fun and convenient. It has a special
viewer for game maps that allows you to pan, zoom, and make your
own searchable map annotations. It has a richtext journal editor
for keeping game notes, which is particularly useful for
role-playing and adventure games. It includes a savegame manager
that allows you to keep multiple savegames, even for games that
only support a single savegame, and to import and export
savegames so that you can share them with others. And it has a
statistics dashboard which lets you track your playing time for
each game you play.

But perhaps best of all, Zardoz is integrated
with Google Drive, so
you can sync your savegames, map annotations, and game journals
with the cloud. This allows you to play a game on one computer,
save your game, and then later start up the game on another
computer and pick up exactly where you left off.

Zardoz is available for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X,
and Windows. It is a self-contained native
Qt 5 application.